“Garage music is not bad, because Christ was born in a manger, which was probably like a garage of that time.” – Sky Saxon

In the last couple of weeks we here at Outloud have been looking at some of the greatest punk and proto-punk singles of all time. So far we have taken a look at Wreckless Eric, The Troggs and The Only Ones but those who know and love their music can see that, yes, we are missing a couple biggies. One of these is “Pushin’ Too Hard” by The Seeds.

The Seeds were led by psychedlic madman Sky Saxon who played bass and sang. The band was heavily influenced by doo wop, blues and rock and roll, with their key influence being The Rolling Stones. The Seeds took the Stones trashy and full of attitude approach to rock and mixed it with the psychedlic movement which was springing up around in California. Upon hearing the band and their first single, legendary bluesman Muddy Waters proclaimed them to be “America’s answer to the Rolling Stones”.

Like many great garage rock songs of the era, “Pushin’ Too Hard”, has only two chords. So it is simple to play but the song’s power doesn’t come from guitarist Jan Savage’s guitar, but rather from the jazz inspired keyboard playing of Daryl Hooper and the rapid fire drums of Rick Andridge and of course the proto punk wail of Sky. Why don’t you give it a listen yourselves.

That sure was “gassy” wasn’t it? Well, I mean in the 60’s sense; you know how stuff was “groovy”. I love looking at the parents in this clip. They are trying desperately to have fun with the “contemporary” music which their kids love so much. My favorite, well, older person because he looks like someone’s single creepy uncle, is having a tough time digesting the sound of The Seeds. That kind of attitude would probably get him elected Mayor in the movie Footloose.

Like nearly every band I have featured so far, The Seeds had more than one great song. Sure “Pushin’ Too Hard” is great but for my money and my ears for that matter, I will always take “Can’t Seem to Make you Mine”. The song is yet another simple one but benefits from a howling Sky Saxon and an amazingly hooky and quite innovative guitar part. Its not surprise that The Ramones, The Stooges, The MC5, Richard Hell and many others were among some of the earliest and most ardent Seeds fans.

The Seeds were one of the many bands that helped key the myth that rock stars were Gods. Rock and roll was and always will be the people’s music and the reason we love it and the personalities that chose to make it their living is for that all too human quality behind it. Sure Sky Saxon would break up the Seeds in the late 60s and join a fringe cult called Yahowah and played on many of their psychedelic records but that’s another reason to love him.

SMS Extra Credit:

Hey guys, sorry to take over Dan’s column, but I had to put this in here as well. If you didn’t know it before, that last song is currently being used in a commercial for Axe Bullet. Hopefully, someone is getting BIG time cheddar for that one. I figured I would chime in, as this used to be Elie’s motivation with Tuned In, but since I gave everyone the Summer off, I can’t get anyone but Holly and Dan back to work yet. Ha. – SMS

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